Musical Theatre (Performance) (Top-Up)

An intensive musical theatre top-up year to sharpen your triple-threat skills and step into the industry with confidence.

The BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (Performance) (Top-Up) at SLP College, awarded by the University of Chichester, is a one-year Level 6 programme for performers who have already completed substantial training at Level 5 and are ready to finish a full honours degree while working at a higher standard.

This top-up year is designed to sharpen what you already have: greater consistency, clearer professional identity, and the habits and skills that employers in this industry look for.

You'll refine advanced skills across the full range of musical theatre, with regular opportunities to apply technique through rehearsed and assessed performance work:

-Singing & Voice: Advanced technique, musical skills, interpretation, stamina and performance confidence.
-Acting: Truthful storytelling, character and scene work, and performance craft under direction.
-Dance: Technical consistency, musicality, and the ability to learn and deliver choreography efficiently.
-Integrated Performance: Bringing acting, singing and movement together under real rehearsal and performance conditions.

At Level 6, you'll be expected to work with greater independence and artistic ownership. You'll set your own performance focus, manage your own practice, and take real responsibility for the quality of your work, alongside developing the professional habits that matter in rehearsal rooms and audition spaces: preparation, focus, collaboration, resilience, and the ability to respond well to direction and feedback.

Employability and professional practice
Professional practice runs throughout the year as part of how you train. You'll develop:
-Audition and self-tape technique: Preparation, performance, and responding to feedback.
-Professional rehearsal etiquette and sustainable working practices.
-Reflective skills to track your progress and improve consistently.
-Practical preparation for the working world: Professional materials, career planning and industry knowledge.
-A realistic picture of what comes next and how to pursue it.

Where it can lead
This year prepares you to move into auditions and early professional opportunities in musical theatre performance and related work. It can also support progression to postgraduate study.

Course Modules

Professional Performance Skills
The core of the year. You'll select one discipline; acting, singing/voice, or dance, as your principal focus, and develop advanced performance craft in that area while maintaining strong, reliable practice across the other two. The aim is a clear professional performance identity: knowing what you bring, being able to deliver it consistently, and understanding how to position yourself for the industry.

Professional Practice
You'll research the industry, identify where you fit, and build the professional materials to get there: CV, Spotlight profile, audition preparation, self-tape technique, and a realistic career development plan. Workshop activity simulates real audition processes, including mock dance calls, singing calls, and online submissions.

Independent Project
A self-initiated, small-scale performance project that you plan, develop, rehearse and deliver. You'll work collaboratively with peers, but you're assessed individually on your artistic choices, your project management, and your ability to reflect critically on the process. It's a chance to work on material that matters to you, on your terms, at Level 6 standard.

Full Musical
The year ends with a full-scale musical production, presented publicly, working with a professional director, musical director, and choreographer. From audition and casting through to performance, this is the closest thing to a professional production process your training can offer. You'll join SLP College's Year 3 cohort for this production, performing alongside students on the full BA programme and, for eligible students, attending the agent showcase in London.